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🌊 Marine 🍽️ Edible 🎣 Game Fish 🌡️ Subtropical

Pacific bonito

Sarda lineolata Girard, 1858
Max Length
102 cm
Max Weight
11.3 kg
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
4.2
Depth
-
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
49.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
pelagic

📖 Overview

An inshore species that forms schools by size . Feeds on a variety of small schooling fishes, squids and shrimps . An important food fish .

Scientific Name
Sarda lineolata
Authority
Girard, 1858
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
Max Length
102 cm
Max Weight
11.3 kg
Trophic Level
4.2
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
49.00/100
Migration
Oceanodromous
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Physical description for Pacific bonito is currently being compiled.

🌀 Behaviour

Pacific bonito usually travel in schools. This species migrates up the coast with the seasons. They can migrate up to 600 miles and move south in the winter where temperatures are warmer and north for the summer.

🦐 Diet

Fish and squid are its main diet. Bonitos were found to eat primarily Northern Anchovy. They have also been known to eat rockfish, hake, sardines, saury and mackerel. From January to June, during their spawning season, they have been found to eat equal amounts of mackerel and squid.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Pacific bonito is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous . Subtropical; 61°N - 20°N Northeast Pacific: Off the coast of Alaska (60°16'N, 145°32'W) to Cabo San Lucas at the tip of Baja California (22°20'N, 112°27'W) and Revillagigedo Islands.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🐟 Pelagic
Migration
Oceanodromous
Trophic Level
4.2±0.6
🐠 Schooling
Food Items

a variety of small schooling fishes, squids and shrimps (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00933 × L3.06 (TL)
Max TL
102cm
Max Weight
11,300g

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
49.00/100
Moderate-High vulnerability
Trophic Level
4.2
Apex / Top predator
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Girard, 1858

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Pacific bonito is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 20.7 g
Omega-3 (total) 353 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Pacific bonito has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Pelamys lineolata Girard 1858 Synonym
Sarda chiliensis lineolata Girard 1858 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 11 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Pacific bonito ↗
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